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Special Maori Encounters
Norm Hatch and his team appeared to enjoy their encounters with Māori. They learned haka and waiata. The photos and films of their time with Māori are filled with wonder and delight.
Te Puea Herangi arranged a series of visits to Ngaruawahia to introduce the Marines to Māori culture. In Wellington, Ngati Pōneke entertained wounded men at Silverstream Hospital. In Rotorua, Guide Rangi made it her personal business to show Marines around Whakarewarewa.
Over the summer of 1942-3, Marines developed a strong affection for Māori and their generous hospitality. Whether staying on Marae around Gisborne, or being hosted by Hapū along the Whanganui River, Marines actively sought out encounters with Māori.
More than 500 Marines attended the annual regatta for King Koroki at Ngaruawahia and hundreds more attended the investiture of Moananui-a-kiwa Ngarimu VC at his home marae at Ruatoki.
Wounded men took up Māori carving as occupational therapy at the Hospitals. Marines also learned to say 'Tēnā koe' and to abide by the tikanga of hui.
Photo Gallery
Please click on images to read the original captions
Maori guide Rangi proudly shows Sgt. Don D. Campbell, 708 Grant Ave. Joliet, Ill. and Leonard W. Duarte, 1224 Sunnyhill road, Oakland, Calif. and their guests her house upon which is carved the ancestral history of her family.
New Zealand
March, 1943
Leopold
Within the stokade at near-by Whakarewarewa, a group of Maori 'maidens' in bird-beather capes and reed skirts do their famous Poi dance before their tribal meetinghouse or pa, with its grotesque carving. each dancer sings a verse of the song, the rest joining in at the chorus, and all keep time by twirling the round raffia balls suspended from cords called pois.
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Edgar Terril
In the course of a maori dance, every muscle is supposed to be used. This veteran 'maiden' went into her dance for the laughs and made a hit with visiting Marines when she stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes in imitation of a tribal carving.
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Daniel R. Francis
Against the brightly painted, intricately carved Pa, the Tahitians sing a farewell aloha to their hosts and distant cousins, the N.Z. Maoris.
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Daniel R. Francis
Caption: Sgt. E.L. White
Two Tahitians and a Maori swing it. Pop-eyed Marines visiting in New Zealand, agreed their So. Pa. stomp really had something.
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Daniel R. Francis
For Maori dancers the cape, made from feathers of the kiwi and those of a rare parakeet and sewn on a backing of heavy canvas is 'GI.' The prettiest Maori in evidence (with her sister)made a big impression on these two Leathernecks. The bird wearing the cape, Cpl. Edgar C. Terrel, 1706 Holbrook St. Greensboro, N.C. was outranked by the Plt. Sgt. Arnold Moss, Waycross, Ga. when it came to the finals
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Daniel R. Francis
This maori guide is dressed in the height of native fashion. She also has been tattooed in blue around the mouth which, in her circles, is felt to enhance her beauty. As might be expected, she proved a walking encyclopedia of maori lore to these Marines sightseers. Marine Gunner J.A. Lanham, 215 N. Columbus St. Alexandria, Va.; Sgt. Maj. E.L. Hurley, 207 Hamlin St. Corbin, Ky.; lst. Sgt. W.J. Wright, route #2, Honea Patch, S.C.
Rotorua, N.Z.
May 12, 1943
Cpl. Edgar Terril
A group of Marines watch the girls rolling and classing the fleece. Sheep are the Romney Cross breed.
Graham's station, Gisborne, N.Z.
Xmas, 1942
Marinesnz.com is the website of The Kāpiti US Marines Trust and part of a major project to collect, preserve and promote World War II US Armed Forces history from 1942-1944 in the Kāpiti district, north of the capital city Wellington, New Zealand. While our focus is the history surrounding Camps Russell, MacKay and Paekākāriki’ we also have an interest in Marines camps in other parts of the Wellington region and in the social history and friendships between Kiwis and Americans during this brief but all-important encounter.
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